I had my 3.8 engine changed recently by the dealer due to oil consumption and since then I noticed that my coolant level has dropped about an inch from full, I refilled it to the mark, and it's down again half an inch after a month. I'm thinking taking it back to the dealer, or should I wait longer and keep watching it ?
Thanks.

There are 2 fill levels on the coolant resevoir. One for a hot engine and one for a cool engine. If you fill it to the hot level when the engine is cool it will go out the overflow tube. Then when you check it cool, it will look "low".

__________________
Tom

"I've got two things in this world, my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one."

If it ain't leaking--it ain't going anywhere, it's just the various levels you're looking at !

If there's a leak--let it sit in a clean (garage) spot and run for 5 minutes--then look underneath--usually leaks will start just under the radiator, where the tranny lines have antivibe rubber conns, bright red dense liquid- !

There are 2 fill levels on the coolant resevoir. One for a hot engine and one for a cool engine. If you fill it to the hot level when the engine is cool it will go out the overflow tube. Then when you check it cool, it will look "low".

Quote:

Originally Posted by gohard

By the coolant bottle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gohard

I'm not sure I understand the checking with the dipstick part "like Dab suggested" and I did read the manual.

Can't it be an internal leak, where the coolant burns?

Dipstick? Coolant burns? Huh?

Look at the "coolant bottle". The are two marks on the side of it. One, near the top, says "Full - Hot". The other, much lower, says "Full - Cold.

That bottle is for the overflow of your radiator. Back in the day there were no bottles, just a tube hanging off your radiator. When the radiator got hot and the fluid expanded, excess would pour on the ground. Now there is a resevoir to catch it.As long you are somewhere between those marks, you're good.

If you're still not sure, take off the radiator cap while the engine is cool. You should see fluid.

The only time coolant burns is when you have a blown head gasket. When that happens, you won't need to ask anyone, you'll know. There will be a huge cloud of white smoke behind you and your exhaust will smell "sweet".

__________________
Tom

"I've got two things in this world, my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one."

How about, don't add any coolant for awhile. If it continues to drop, then something is wrong. If it doesn't, then it's just the changes in engine temp between the cold and hot levels. In fact, if you fill it to the cold mark when the engine is indeed cold, then check it again hot, you should see an increase.

Yes, add the coolant to the proper level. It's something that should be checked on a regular basis along with oil, trans, brake fluid, etc. Aren't people taught to check these things any more? It's part of what I teach my kids when teaching them how to drive.

__________________
Tom

"I've got two things in this world, my balls and my word and I don't break them for no one."

Yes, add the coolant to the proper level. It's something that should be checked on a regular basis along with oil, trans, brake fluid, etc. Aren't people taught to check these things any more? It's part of what I teach my kids when teaching them how to drive.

Cold engine= full/Max line. Hot engine= inch or two lower. Your coolant level will fluctuate up and down that's normal. Check after the jeeps sat all night as it will all drain out of the cooling system back into the bottle. Also I had low coolant and it ended up being a leaking intake manifold gasket and the coolant was seeping out near the water pump area. Check for any darkish resin or goo in around the intake or engine. Check hoses and your rad. I'll attach a picture of what mine looked like just before it was repaired btw there where no symptoms or warnings. Just low coolant and the sludge. This may be a big issue because believe it or not the coolant mixed with my engine oil contaminating my whole system probably causing irreversible damage. I ended up having to get the lower intake gasket fixed , coolant flushed and engine flushed. Worth checking out believe me. In the picture that's my main pully and just above the gunk is the water pump this more less a straight shot of the engine. Jared-

it is very normal for coolant to "disappear" after an engine change for a while There are a ton of places for air bubbles to hide out inside the block and they will work themselves out over a time and be displaced by coolant in the surge tank, causing the level to go down.

Just keep an eye on it and feed it when it's hungry, eventually it'll stop on it's own unless you have an issue.

If it's leaking internally, your exhaust will be white and smell sweet, like it's burning cookies or caramel

Cold engine= full/Max line. Hot engine= inch or two lower. Your coolant level will fluctuate up and down that's normal. Check after the jeeps sat all night as it will all drain out of the cooling system back into the bottle. Also I had low coolant and it ended up being a leaking intake manifold gasket and the coolant was seeping out near the water pump area. Check for any darkish resin or goo in around the intake or engine. Check hoses and your rad. I'll attach a picture of what mine looked like just before it was repaired btw there where no symptoms or warnings. Just low coolant and the sludge. This may be a big issue because believe it or not the coolant mixed with my engine oil contaminating my whole system probably causing irreversible damage. I ended up having to get the lower intake gasket fixed , coolant flushed and engine flushed. Worth checking out believe me. In the picture that's my main pully and just above the gunk is the water pump this more less a straight shot of the engine. Jared-

I fear I may have an issue like yours....
I checked my engine a little while ago, and it looks as if I have a stain on it similar to the one in your photo, just in a different location....still on the top part of the engine.
For all i know it's a stain from when oil was put in during the last change (I didn't do it myself as the dealer offered me a free oil change for having to wait HOURS for warranty work to be done)

Fingers x'd....
I guess asking a dumb question can sometimes lead to some very helpful info!

I fear I may have an issue like yours....
I checked my engine a little while ago, and it looks as if I have a stain on it similar to the one in your photo, just in a different location....still on the top part of the engine.
For all i know it's a stain from when oil was put in during the last change (I didn't do it myself as the dealer offered me a free oil change for having to wait HOURS for warranty work to be done)

Fingers x'd....
I guess asking a dumb question can sometimes lead to some very helpful info!

Thanks Jared!!

Yeah no problem man better safe than sorry. You should get that checked out at the dealer and make sure you ask them about a leaking gasket it's more common than you think. I had mine in for service completely unrelated to the gasket twice once for an oil change and once for an axle seal repair. Both times they didn't catch the leak even though I knew it was there and figured it was either oil or carbon build up but i was wrong. The techs in some dealers like the one I don't go to anymore for obvious reasons just don't care.. To not notice that is neglectful and lazy and any good mechanic could spot that a mile away. Be pro active and ask questions just like your doing and you'll be all gravy. Jared-

Cold engine= full/Max line. Hot engine= inch or two lower. Your coolant level will fluctuate up and down that's normal. Check after the jeeps sat all night as it will all drain out of the cooling system back into the bottle. Also I had low coolant and it ended up being a leaking intake manifold gasket and the coolant was seeping out near the water pump area. Check for any darkish resin or goo in around the intake or engine. Check hoses and your rad. I'll attach a picture of what mine looked like just before it was repaired btw there where no symptoms or warnings. Just low coolant and the sludge. This may be a big issue because believe it or not the coolant mixed with my engine oil contaminating my whole system probably causing irreversible damage. I ended up having to get the lower intake gasket fixed , coolant flushed and engine flushed. Worth checking out believe me. In the picture that's my main pully and just above the gunk is the water pump this more less a straight shot of the engine. Jared-

Glad I found this thread... I noticed my coolant level was slightly below the "min" level on the reservoir just last week. I also noticed the stain you posted, but didn't initially think they were related.

Not so sure now.

I did a search to find out what kind of coolant you guys were running... Mopar or something else, and found this thread.

I'm calling the dealer tomorrow to see if they can get me in soon. My 3/36,000 will be up in August, so I want this taken care of before then.